How can I tell if my job offer in Europe is genuine and not a fake agent offer?
06 Nov 2026 · Answered by Smitha Satish S · 2 min read
Quick Answer
verified
A genuine Europe job offer is typically posted on the employer's own website, comes with a signed employment contract, leads to a work visa and uses an agent listed on emigrate.gov.in within the legal fee cap. Be wary of tourist visa advice or lakhs demanded upfront.
Fake offers are common, so check each offer against the signs the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) describes. A genuine offer typically passes all of the checks below, and any failure is a reason to pause.
Checks for a Genuine Offer
| Check | What a genuine offer looks like |
|---|---|
| Job posting | The same job is posted on the company's own website, not only shared on WhatsApp or Instagram |
| Paperwork | You receive a signed employment contract, since a confirmation letter on its own is not enough |
| Visa type | The offer leads to a work visa, and anyone telling you to fly in on a tourist visa is a red flag |
| Agent | The agent appears on emigrate.gov.in |
| Fees | The fee stays within Rs 30,000 plus GST, the legal cap, and lakhs demanded upfront means you should walk away |
Why Caution Matters
- MEA has reportedly named 3,505 unregistered agents on its eMigrate portal, which shows how common fake offers are.
- For sponsorship jobs, search your job title with "visa sponsorship" or "relocation support" and apply to employers directly.
- Before applying to a Dutch company, look it up on the IND list of recognised sponsors.
My Advice
Never pay an agent before you have a signed contract and have verified the employer yourself. Look up the agent on emigrate.gov.in and confirm the latest fee rules on the official MEA site.
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